Thursday, November 13, 2008

Draft Alex Sink

It's time to put a Democrat back in the Governor's Mansion! Alex Sink is Florida's rising star and we want her as the next leader of our state. Join the movement to draft her in 2010, support her fight for Florida's families and children, and complete the Sunshine State's transition to the "blue" column by electing a new chief executive with true blue credentials! Alex Sink for Governor.

Beating Charlie Crist will be difficult. The economic outlook will effect Crist's future. The mortage crisis and state budget deficit are not about to get better. Sink has been pleading with the Republican-dominated Florida legislature to hold a special session.

"When Florida's families realize they are spending more each month than they are earning, they don't wait six months before taking action," Sink wrote to House Speaker-designate Ray Sansom, R-Destin, and Senate President-designate Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach. "I urge you to call a special session in December or January so that we can reduce our state's expenditures for this fiscal year in a responsible manner."

She has already asked Gov. Charlie Crist and legislative leaders for borrowing authority of $1.25 billion from state trust funds.

Sink said, "as keeper of the state's checkbook," she has to repay trust-fund borrowing by June 30. If lawmakers wait for the regular session in March to reduce state spending - or even consider tax increases, which Crist and the GOP legislative leadership oppose - she said there will be only three months for agencies to absorb all of the necessary cuts.

"Let's make it real for Floridians," Sink said. "I think every Florida family is sitting around their kitchen table thinking, 'Do we need to cut back? What do we need to cut back on? What happens if one of us loses our job?'

Sink's calls for a special session went ignored.

"I'm not hitting the panic button," said incoming House Speaker Ray Sanson. "There's not a panic button to hit."

Sanson is waiting for the November 21st revenue estimate. No one in either party expects the revenue estimate to provide good news. Sink had to ask Crist and the legislature for $1.25 billion to fund the government. The budget has been cut the past two years. This isn't a matter of cutting pork. This is about not running the government into debt.

Asked if the state can continue budgeting for all of its needs without raising more revenue, Sink said: "I don't know."

Which explains why Republicans are in no hurry to call a special session. Sanson and Crist do not want to admit they are running the state into debt. They do not want to offend Grover Norquist and anti-tax conservatives by discussing new taxes. Conservative dogma keeps Crist and fellow Republicans from during heavy lifting. Florida Republicans would rather run the budget like Enron. When in debt, borrow more money.

Sink, the only Democrat on the Florida Cabinet, said the state already has borrowed $300 million from its own trust funds to pay day-to-day expenses due to a growing shortfall in general revenue, mostly sales tax. She expects to borrow at least $500 million more from the trust funds.

"You can't look at these numbers and not be alarmed," Sink said.

Sanson expects the deficit to reach $2 billion. There is no reason for him not to ask Crist to call a special session.